Istanbul culinary walks

Turkish cuisine, like Turkey itself, channels cultural currents coming in from every direction, resulting in the delicious culinary chaos that is Istanbul. Turks, Greeks, Arabs, Persians and countless others have passed through here, leaving an indelible stamp on the cuisine. Historians speak of the “layered” nature of the city; we like to think of Istanbul as a stew. Our culinary walks and cooking classes in Istanbul are designed to lead visitors on an eating binge through the city’s lesser-seen historic side streets and authentic markets, taking in countless hard-to-find culinary gems and, in between bites, a select number of untouristed monuments. We offer several activities in Istanbul (as well as a culinary walk in the Aegean city of Izmir and, seasonally, a multi-day culinary adventure in southern Turkey’s Gaziantep): Click here to compare our Istanbul Routes.

Quick bite: Istanbul’s Bazaar Quarter is one of the world’s biggest open-air commercial centers and a historic center of small craftsmen who still carry on their tradition in the atmospheric caravanserais. On this 5-hour walk, we will eat with these craftsmen. Explore this Istanbul tour

Quick bite: From a workingman’s breakfast in the frenetic market to a leisurely fish lunch in the Bosphorus neighborhood, this full-day tour brings together the high points of life in Istanbul, in all their rich contrast.

Quick Bite: In Istanbul’s Old City, two culinary worlds exist side by side: one for tourists and one for locals. Our 5½–hour walk goes beyond the major monuments to these time-honored spots where all of the serious eating is done.

Quick bite: With Beyoğlu’s cosmopolitan history as a backdrop, on this walk we will eat our way through the classic and unknown eateries of the neighborhood, the old and the new, tasting specialties from all over Turkey.

Quick Bite: After a shopping for ingredients in one of Istanbul’s most food-centric neighborhoods, we’ll teach you how to cook six of our favorite Turkish recipes from all over Turkey – dishes like Circassian chicken, stuffed eggplant from southeastern Turkey, Aegean-style mincemeat pastries and more.

Quick bite: This evening experience is a full meyhane experience – with raki-drinking, an endless stream of meze offerings, celebrations with music and dance – can be praised in strict gastronomic terms, but we feel its real significance lies off the plate.

Quick Bite: With author Robyn Eckhardt and photographer David Hagerman, we’ll take you on a week-long culinary journey from Istanbul to Hatay, learning about the people and places behind the tastes featured in their acclaimed cookbook Istanbul and Beyond. We’ll tour urban markets and village bakeries, meet homecooks for hands-on demonstrations and experience much more.